Ingot ejector



R. W. DlNZL INGOT INJECTOR Aug. 29, 1939.

Filed Aug. 16, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ff iNvENToR Y ATTORNEYS Aug. 29, 1939T R w .NZL l 2,171,141

. INGoT INJEcToRI -I Filed Aug. 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY IVENTORNZ Y 1 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 29, 1939 -UNirED STATES PATENT OFFICE INGOT EJ ECTOR Application August 16, 1937, Serial No. 159,266

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for ejecting a core from an article containing it. More particularly the invention relates to improvements in an apparatus for forcing a metal ingot from a mold.

Important objects of the invention are to provide such an apparatus designed to facilitate the performance of the ejecting or stripping operation and attendant operations, and to provide a very durable apparatus of this kind.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The apparatus includes a platform comprising a casting I with at upper and lower surfaces. The platform extends across a foundation pit P and rests upon the margin thereof. Much of the apparatus is disposed within the pit.v The platform provides support for a mold M containing an ingot I, both indicated in the drawings by dot-and-dash lines. At its center the platform has a circular aperture 2. There are also two rectangular apertures 3 at opposite sides of said central aperture.

Beneath -the platform there is a hydraulic pressure cylinder 4 supported in vertical axial alinement with the central aperture 2 of the casting. Said cylinder is formed of a single casting. It is open at its upper end and has a closed dome-.like lower end 5. A ram 6 for ejecting the ingot from the mold is fitted for reciprocation in the cylinder 4. Beneath the cylinder there is a base plate I resting upon the bottom of the pit. Four vertical guide rods 8 are secured at their upper and lower ends to the platform I and the base 'I, respectively. These rods are spaced around the exterior of the cylinder and the latter has laterally projecting integral ears 9 with bores II] slidably receiving the guide rods. There are two series of these ears located at or near the upper and lower ends of the cylinder. Thereby the cylinder is supported for vertical reciprocation. Such movement of the cylinder is provided for in order to facilitate anchorage of the cylinder to the ingot mold M, and release therefrom, as will be explained hereinafter.

Hydraulic pressure mechanism is provided for shifting the cylinder 4 up and down a comparatively short distance. A pair of hydraulic pressure cylinders II Aare mounted upon the base 1 in upright position and dametrically arranged with respect to the cylinder 4. The latter cylinder has Adiametrcal extensions I2 overlying the cylinders II., and affixed to, or formed on, said extensions are depending, cylindrical plungers I3 which protrude into the cylinders II. The cylinders I I have closed lower ends against which the plungers bottom to limit downward movement of the cylinder 4. At their upper ends the cylinders I I have stuffing boxes I4 tting the plungers. Admission of hydraulic pressure to the lower ends of the cylinders II will force the plungers upward and elevate the cylinder 4.

Links I5 are provided to make resistance connections between the cylinder 4 and the ingot mold M for holding down the mold upon the platform I when the ram 6 is operated to thrust the ingot out Vof the mold. Each link is an elongated, rigid metal loop comprising a pair of flat,

parallel bars I 6 connected and spaced at their ends byanchoring portions I'I. For attachment of the links -to the cylinder 4 thelateral extensions I2 of thecylinder are recessed, as at I8. An anchoring end I'I of one of the links is inserted into each recess and at its outer side the recess is closed by. a cover vplate i9 detachably secured'to the cylinder extension. The upper and` lower edges of said link end portion I'I are rounded and convex as at 20. A bearing block 2| is interposed between the upper side of recess I8 and the link portion II and has a concave bearing surface 22 to fit the rounded upper edge of said link portion. At its lower side recess I8 also has a concave bearing surface 23 to fit the adjacent rounded edge of link portion I'I. The recess affords considerable lateral clearance for the .link portion I'I to permit rocking thereof in the recess.

'Ihe resistance links I5 extend upward from their anchorages to the cylinder 4 through the apertures 3 in the platform I to points above the platform. The upper ends of the links are formed like the lower ends and they are anchorable to lateral ears E on the ingot mold M. Said ears are concave at their upper sides to provide anchorage for the links. The platform apertures 3 are large enough to afford clearance for considerable rocking movement of the links so .that they maybe anchored to molds which vary in size throughout a rather large range. A number of mold-locating pins 24 are arranged Aupon the platform -to `engage the base of the mold and locate it in properl relation to the ram 6 vand the anchoring links. Each pin has an upwardly tapering head and a shank. The plat- Ii I form has sockets 25 spaced along lines radiating from the central aperture 2, and the pin shanks are inserted in select-ed ones of the sockets, according to the size of the mold.

Pneumatically operated means are provided to rock the links I into and out of anchoring relation to the mold. Secured to the under side of the platform are two diametrically opposed air cylinders 26 arranged outwardly of the links. Each cylinder has a piston 2T therein with a piston rod 28 extending toward the adjacent link |5V and provided with a crosshead 29 operatively connecting it to the link. 'I'he crosshead is formed to permit the link to slide vertically across it while maintaining the operative connection.

The ram 6 comprises three superimposed sections including a large lower section 5a, an upper section 6b, of reduced diameter, and an intermediate section 60. The lower section 6ai is the piston section. It tswithin the cylinder 4, normally bottoms on the closed lower end of the cylinder and protrudes above the open upper end of the cylinder. It is axially cored out and lined with a bushing 30 to form an air cylinder 3| closed at its lower end. This cylinder forms part of a jolt mechanism for the ram. The intermediate section 6c of the ram is bolted to the upper end of section 6a as at 32 and has a vertical bore 33 alining with cylinder 3| and of less diameter than the cylinder and lined with a bushing. Section 6b is the thrust section engageable with the ingot to force it from the mold. Said section is of cylindrical form and has a base flange 34 resting upon and bolted to the section At its under side the thrust section 6b has a cylindrical recess 35, and the section 6 has an annular flange 36 surrounding its bore 33 and tting into the lower -end of said recess.

A jolt plunger 3l is fitted for reciprocation in the bushing of the bore 33 and has a head 38 Within the recess 35 and normally resting upon the flange 36. The head is of less height than the depth of the recess so that it is normally spaced away from the under side of the jolt plunger. Normally the lower end of the plunger protrudes downward into the cylinder 3 I Within the latter a hammer piston 39 is tted. Admission of air to the lower end of cylinder 3| will drive the piston 39 upward to hammer the jolt plunger against the under side of the thrust section of the ram. The resulting vibration will aid in loosening the ingot in the mold. When the hammer piston is near the upper end of its stroke the air pressure beneath it may be relieved in any suitable manner as, for example, by venting the cylinder 3| to atmosphere through a port 46 located so that it will be uncovered when the piston has risen to a certain height. The drop of the hammer piston is cushioned by a coiled buifer spring 4| in the lower end of the cylinder 3|.

The thrust section 6b of the ram is joined to the intermediate section 6c in a manner to permit it to yield slightly relatively to said intermediate section under the impact of the jolt through a pipe 45 having branches leading to the low-er ends of said cylinders. Said pipe leads from a manually operable valve 46 to which is connected a supply pipe 4'! leading from a hydraulic pressure source, not shown. Another pipe 48 also leads from said valve to the lower end of large cylinder 4. The valve is operable so that in one adjustment it will place supply pipe 41 in communication with pipe 45 for supply of hydraulic pressure to cylinders in another adjustment it will relieve or exhaust the pressure from said cylinders, in a third adjustment it will place the supply pipe 41 in communication with pipe 48 to supply hydraulic pressure to the large cylinder 4, and in a fourth adjustment it will relieve or exhaust the pressure from the large cylinder. The valve may be a four-way valve of standard design and it is here indicated diagrammatically.

For supplying air to the cylinders 26 for rocking the resistance links I5, a supply pipe 49 leads from a compressed air source, not shown, to a manually operable valve 5D. From said valve piping 5| leads to the outer ends of cylinders 2| and other piping 52 leads from the valve to the inner ends of said cylinders. This valve also, here indicated only diagrammatically, may be of a standard design capable in one adjustment of admitting air from the supply pipe 49 to the piping 5| and the outer ends of the cylinders 28 and at the same time exhausting air from the inner ends of the cylinders. In another adjustment the valve exhausts air from the outer ends of the cylinders through the piping 5| and admits air under pressure from the supply pipe to the piping 52.

For supplying compressed air to the cylinder 3| within the ram a pipe 53 is connected to the air supply pipe 49 and leads to a manually operable valve 54. From this valve a pipe 55 is connected to a conduit 56 bored in the ram section 6a and delivering into the lower end of'cylinder 3| Valve 54, diagrammatically indicated, may be of a standard design capable of one adjustment to admit air from pipe 53 toY pipe 55 for supply of air to the cylinder 3|, and capable of another adjustment to exhaust air from said cylinder through the pipe 55. If desired the vent port 4U for the cylinder 3| may be omitted and the valve 54 operated for each jolt of the ram.

In the operation of Ythe apparatus the moldlocating pins 24 are rst adjusted to dene a space upon the platform of a size to just receive an ingot mold of a given size. The mold, containing an ingot, is seated endwise Within said space upon the platform, with an end of the ingot in vertical alinement with the upper end of the ram 6, through the aperture 2. The valve 46 is next operated to admit hydraulic pressure to the small cylinders I| and elevate the large cylinder 4 and the links I5 until the upper ends I'I of the links are at a level to swing over the anchoring ears E of the mold. The air valve 56 is then operated to admit compressed air to the outer ends of the cylinders 25 and cause movement of the pistons 2`| to rock the links and dispose their upper end portions over the ears E of the mold. Next, the valve 46 is operated to relieve or exhaust the hydraulic pressure in cylinders and permit the ram 6 to settle until the end portions I1 of the links engage the concave upper sides of the ears E. Then the valve 46 is operated to admit hydraulic pressure to the cylinder 4 to force the ram upward against the ingot and dislodge it from the mold. While this thrust is taking place there is also a reaction thrust tending to force cylinder 4 downward and exerting a pull through the links I5 to hold the mold down upon the platform. While the ram is thrusting upon the ingot the air valve 54 is operated to admit compressed air to cylinder 3l to drive the hammer piston 39 upward ragainst the jolt plunger 31 and hammer the latter against the thrust section Eb of the ram. This assists in loosening the ingot in the mold.

When the ejecting operation of the apparatus has been completed valve 45 is operated to relieve or exhaust hydraulic pressure from cylinder 4 and permit the ram S to settle until it bottoms on the lower end ofthe cylinder. Next, valve "I6 is operated to admit hydraulic pressure to the small cylinders II for elevating the cylinder 4 and links I5 until the upper end portions I'I of the links are free of the concave upper 'sides of the ears E on the mold. Valve 5a is then operated to exhaust air pressure from the outer v ends of cylinders v26 and admit compressed air to the inner ends of such cylinders to swing the links I5 clear of the mold so that the latter can be removed.

It will be seen that the improved apparatus is designed for very convenient operation and that it is also designed to withstand severe stress.

What I claim is:

1. A core-ejecting apparatus comprising a support for an article containing a core to be ejected therefrom, a fluid pressure cylinder mounted beneath said support for vertical axial reciprocation, an ejector ram reciprocable within said cylinder, pressure resistance means anchored to said cylinder and releasably anchorable to the corecontaining article to hold same to said support, the cylinder, ram and resistance means forming a unit bodily shiftable vertically to position the resistance means for anchoring to said article, and means for so shifting said unit, the ram and cylinder being cooperable for forcing the ram upwardly to engage and eject the core by admission of uid pressure to the cylinder and also for holding said article down upon its support by reactive downward force of said fluid pressure upon the cylinder and transmission of said force through said resistance means to said article. l

2. Core-ejecting apparatus according to claim l, characterized in that the said means for vertically shifting said unit is operable by uid pressure to elevate the unit, and there is provision for relief of said pressure when the resistance means is anchored to the core-containing article to thereby render the said reactive pressure in the cylinder of the unit effective to hold said article down upon the support during the ejecting operation of the ram.

3. Core-ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the said resistance means is borne by the said cylinder for lateral shifting into and out of anchoring relation toi the corecontainnig article, and there is fluid pressure operated mechanism mounted independently of the said unit at a xed level and having operative connections with the resistance means for so shifting the latter and constructed and arranged to maintain them in operative relation to the resistance means in the different vertical adjustments of the resistance means eifected by the said vertical shifting of the unit.

4. In a core-ejecting apparatus including a vertical main cylinder and a. ram reciprocable in the cylinder and shiftable upwardly by fluid pressure in the cylinder to engage a core and force it from an article containing it, a fluid pressure cylinder within the ram and extending axially thereof, the ram having a core-engaging upper end section mounted for limited upward movement relatively to the portion of the ram therebeneath and with spring means yieldably holding it down upon said portion, a jolt plunger mounted for vertical reciprocation within the ram and with its upper end normally spaced beneath the under side of said core-engaging section and its lower end protruding into said cylinder within the ram, and a hammer piston reciprocable within the later cylinder and forceable upward by uid pressure therein to hammer said jolt plunger against the core-engaging section of the ram for jolting said section while it is being forced against the core by the iluid pressure in the main cylinder.

5. A core-ejecting apparatus comprising a support for an article containing a core to be ejected therefrom, a. pressure means mounted beneath said support for vertical axial reciprocation, a reciprocable ejector ram operable by said pressure means, pressure resistance means anchored to said pressure means and releasably anchorable to the core-containing article to hold same to said support, the said pressure means, ram and resistance means forming a unit bodily shiftable upwardly to position the resistance means for anchoring to said article and downwardly to suspend the said unit from said article, and means for so shifting said unit, the ram and pressure means being cooperable for forcingv the ram upwardly to engage and eject the core and also for holding said article down upon its support by reactive downward force of said pressure means and transmission of said force through said resistance means to said article.

6. A core-ejecting apparatus comprising a reciprocably mounted ram to engage a core endwise and force it free from an article containing it, uid pressure means for advancing the ram to apply a sustained pressure upon the end of the core, a. rearwardly facing abutment borne by the ram and spaced rearwardly from the forward,

core-engaging end of the ram, jolt means operable to impact said abutment in the direction of advance of the ram, and uid-pressure means for operating said jolt means intermittently and operable concurrently with said first fluid pressure means to subject the ram to repeated impacts in the direction of its advance and while it is held pressed against the core by said first uuid pressure means.

7. A core-ejecting apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the said jolt means is mounted within the ram for reciprocation along the axis of the ram and for operation upon the said ram abutment in any position of the ram. RICHARD W. DINZL. 

